Arsenal are building a significant advantage at the top of the Premier League, but their latest victory has highlighted an issue that could become increasingly important as the season progresses.
Mikel Arteta’s side have developed an impressive defensive foundation, regularly keeping opponents at arm’s length and grinding out results. However, while their backline continues to deliver, there are still questions over whether the Gunners possess enough firepower to make their attacking dominance count.
Saturday’s meeting with Hull City provided another example, with Arsenal requiring a second-half breakthrough to overcome a side who defended resolutely for much of the afternoon.
Arsenal’s attacking struggles exposed again against Hull
The Gunners dominated possession at the Emirates Stadium, registering 21 shots and 10 efforts on target, but struggled to turn that pressure into goals.
Kai Havertz had a particularly frustrating afternoon, missing a promising one-on-one opportunity in the first half after failing to get a shot away.
The forward also found himself at the centre of a controversial VAR decision shortly before the break, when he was pulled back by Nobel Mendy inside the penalty area. Arsenal were denied a spot-kick after Havertz was judged to have been offside, although former Premier League referee Mike Dean later argued that a penalty should have been awarded.
Despite their dominance, Arsenal had to wait until the 72nd minute to find the breakthrough.
Noni Madueke forced a save from Konstantinos Tzolakis, with the rebound falling perfectly for Martin Odegaard to lift the ball over the goalkeeper and secure all three points.
It was a crucial contribution from the captain, but the fact that Arsenal needed a goalkeeper’s parry to create their winning goal will not completely ease concerns about their attacking output.
Madueke was one of the hosts’ biggest threats, while Odegaard injected greater urgency into their play. However, the Gunners lacked the clinical edge required to put the contest beyond doubt.
The result raises an important question for Arteta: does his current attacking group have enough quality and depth to sustain a title challenge?
Do Arsenal need another attacking option?
Arsenal’s defensive numbers are impressive, but their attacking performances have not always matched the standards expected of a team competing for the Premier League title.
Havertz struggled to make an impact against Hull before being replaced, while Viktor Gyökeres was unable to provide the desired attacking spark after coming off the bench.
The Gunners have several options across the forward line, with Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Max Dowman who is currently suspended after his red card vs Fleetwood Town in the Carabao cup and Bukayo Saka who is still sidelined with an injury he got away to Bayern Munich last month.
However, having attacking options available does not necessarily mean Arsenal have the right balance or a consistent enough source of goals.
Odegaard’s return to the scoresheet was particularly welcome, but Arsenal cannot always rely on their captain or midfielders to produce the decisive moment.
Against teams who defend deep and restrict space in the final third, Arteta needs forwards who can create something from limited opportunities and consistently turn chances into goals.
That is where a new attacking signing could make a difference.
Arsenal’s ability to bring in another forward would provide Arteta with greater flexibility, additional competition and another potential match-winner when existing options are struggling.
There is no suggestion from Saturday’s result alone that a transfer is guaranteed, but the performance offered another reminder of why strengthening the attack could be worth considering.
Defensive strengths is keeping Arsenal top
While the attacking concerns remain, Arsenal’s defensive performances should not be overlooked.
The victory over Hull was their seventh clean sheet in 10 Premier League matches, extending their run without conceding in the competition to 444 minutes.
Gabriel Magalhães and Ezri Konsa were once again impressive at centre-back, with the latter winning all seven of his duels and completing 51 of his 53 passes.
With William Saliba nearing a return, Arteta will soon have further competition in defence, but it is clear that his side are currently well equipped to prevent opponents from scoring.
Arsenal now have 27 points from 10 matches, six clear of Manchester City after they lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest.
The result keeps the Gunners firmly in control of their title challenge, but the performance also highlighted an area that could need attention.
Arteta has built a team capable of defending leads and winning difficult matches. The next step is ensuring they have enough attacking quality to make those victories more comfortable.
If Arsenal are serious about maintaining their advantage at the top, adding another reliable attacking threat could be an important piece of the puzzle.
